I forgot to Post Your Answers to This Brain Teaser!!
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Can you find thirty (30) books of the Bible in the paragraph, below? Actually there are thirty-one (31) Bible names if you can find the variant of one Old Testament prophet.
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This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu, keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much, he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied it while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving, she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That’s a fact. Some people, however, will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or a scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that this puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts it, “The books are all right here in plain view hidden from sight.” Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also, keep in mind, that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus; there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found. God Bless. *******************************************
Here Are The Books in the order they appear in the Paragraphs:
Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do (Numbers 15:38-39)
Hey Neighbor!
Itâs Saturday, so once again, I have this weekâs Trivia answers!!
I have also provided Sundayâs Riddle, just in case you missed it, along with our CareBibleStory on this weekâs Super-faithâ Female!!
And of course, I will announce our âSuper-Faithâ RiddleđSolver: Pedro Villarreal đđđ
Pedro, the âSuper- Faithâ Danceđșđđœâïž Floor is Yours, but please save some room for your blogger friends who participated this weekđŻ
Today I have Your Answer to Our Super-Faith Sunday Challenge from 4/10.
This âfaith-fullâ femaleâs name is, Rahab!!
And here is her story!!
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She had quickly placed the red cord in her window- intentionally and strategically, but not for the purpose of luring a simple minded man to her âred light,â near the entrance to Jericho.
Although this same scarlet cord may have been used for a marking and as a method to render her wages for her âservicesâ in times past, it was now being re-purposed for a shield of mercy.
It was now securely hung from her window as a sign- It communicated a message to the Israelite Armies to yield and to spare only the lives of those who dwelled inside of Rahab, the harlotâs home.
But no longer was she using her home for secluded stay to strangers, who had come seeking her sexual favors, she was now providing clandestine shelter to her family, and to her fatherâs household, as they desperately sought the grace and favor of the God of Heaven and Earth.
Rahab was no longer using her home as a den for sin, but now it was a safe-haven and a strong tower for the righteous!!
Yes!!
It had been confirmed that The Lord was about to take the city and destroy itsâ inhabitants, but all who were âsheltered in placeâ in Rahabâs house would be kept alive. Just as the first-born Israelites were saved from the death angel in Egypt.
You see, Rahab believed that the God of these Israelites, The One who had caused the waters and the waves to come crashing down upon Pharoahâs armies, would also cause the walls in Jericho to come crashing down; blotting out the lives of those who had refused to obey Him!!
But could this same God blot out the reproach and stigma of Rahabâs former disobedience??
Would she always be called âRahab- the Harlotâ or could God He give her a ânew nameâ and call her a princess, like Sarah- the Mother of Nations??
Rahab chose to believe that her God was able!!
So She stretched forth her hand, and took hold to Godâs – by faith, not looking back – like Lotâs wife!!
But with her eyes locked and loaded on her âfruit-filledâ future.
If God was able to bring forth life from Sarahâs dead womb, He could also give her new life-burying her past sins in the rubble that had once been called, Jericho.
I often wonder if Salmon was one of those 2 men who had come to Rahab that evening??
This we may never know, but we do know that God had transformed Rahab, and He clothed her in righteousness when she believed.
And she stretched forth her faith – putting it into action when she âfaith-fullyâ delivered Joshuaâs men out the treacherous hands of their pursuers.
And if Salmon had truly been one of those 2 men, hidden upon Rehabâs roof, how could he have hardened his heart against her, having seen her blind faith – Rahab believed in His God, yet she had not âeyedâ His marvelous works!!
Salmon would have seen Rahabâs courage, and how she confidently sided with him and his companion; showing him favor by boldly betraying her own country and thus, risking her life – for his.
She had been his eyes and ears, as he spied out the land. Rahab was Salmonâs inside informant, providing him testimony of how the inhabitants had feared the Israelites- She was the âsealâ that stamped his favorable report that he had submitted to Joshua.
Salmonâs eyes ceased to see this woman as simply a prostitute, insteadâŠSalmon saw âmarriage material.â
He saw a capable and industrious woman – who was by no means perfect, but who was much like the familiar, virtuous woman from Proverbs 31.
Salmon saw a woman who sought out wool and flax – that which she used to cover and protect him securely upon her roof!! (Prov 31:13)
Salmon saw a woman who had dressed herself with strength, and had used her strong and firm arms to let him down from her window. (Prov 31:17)
Prov 18:22 tells Us that when a man findeth a wife, he findeth a good thing!!
Well, Salmon had found a âgoodâ thing in Rahab!!
Yes!!
Rahab became Salmonâs wife and mother to their son, Boaz.
Yes!!
That is the same Boaz who married Ruth!!
And check out the remaining genealogy from Matthew 1:5-6:
-Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King DavidâŠ.
Now notice as you read through this genealogy, listed aboveđThe scarlet stains of Rahabâs past are no longer on the page!!
She is no longer Rahab, the Harlot – but simply Rahab.
She, who had once been called a prostitute, is now called a princess!!
Indeed God had transformed Rahab, and He caused her latter years to be better than her former; and God gave Rahab beauty, because by faith, she surrendered her ashes!!
*************************************** Thanks For Stopping By!!
Until Next Time, RememberâŠ
God Loves đYou and So Do I!!
-Tam
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Itâs a âday late and a dollar short,â but Here is your Super- Faith Sunday Trivia Question for 4/10/2022.
Can You Guess the name of this Old Testament, âfaith-fullâ Woman of God??
Here are your clues!!
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She had heard rumors of the wondrous victories that The Lord had given to the Israelites; and although her neighbors were faint of heart after hearing about the terror of The Lord, she was not afraid!!
She courageously welcomed the two traveling Israelite men into her home. She secretly gave them lodging, and kept them from being discovered by their pursuers. She even assisted, as they hastily escaped from her city.
She had fervent hope, and confident expectation that âtheirâ God would reward her, and bless her fatherâs household by keeping them alive, because she had partnered with âtheirâ Godâs plan to bring down the walls in her city.
She prayerfully and dutifully followed the instructions of these 2 men, down to the most minute details. She was so âfaith-fullâ to keep her part of the deal, believing these men could guarantee that her life would be saved.
But manâs temporary salvation was not enough for her, regardless of her sordid past.
She wanted the eternal salvation that could only come from the God in Heaven above. She believed that this same God could and would forgive her former sins and bless her latter years with victory and joy.
Indeed, âHerâ God did reward her âfaith-fullnessâ and He gave her as wife, to a direct descendant of the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
How joyful she must have been when her great – great grandson was seated on the throne in Israel and she became a most merry âmatriarchâ to a King!!
Who Is She??
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Have Fun!! I will post the Answer for You on Tuesday – 4/12
Thanks For Stopping By!!
Until Next Time, RememberâŠ
God Loves đYou and So Do I!!
-Tam
Donât forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also â
Recently, I was asked by one of the ministers of my church to participate in a new online outreach program called âThirty Pieces of Silver.âÂ
During Covid- Our Membership at Bethany had drastically declined and 30 pieces was initiated as an attempt to reach out to the members of the church who were hindered from attending Sunday Services in person.
We were also hoping that 30 pieces would appeal to the online listeners- who have not yet visited the church, but still had a desire to come out. These are the folks on our radar- The Silent Membership- those that have been watching the Sunday Morning Message, but would like to gain more information about the individual members of the congregation, before they take their next step.
We are about 3 months in now and 30 pieces is thriving and we are successfully reaching our target audience, so I thought I would share a couple of the messages with you.
We are first-time Facebook amateurs, so please be patient with Us!!
My girl-friend, Kim and I were the first of the members to take the baton for 30 pieces and our first Lesson was 2/8/2022. Our Topic was on The Holy Spirit.Â
-He charged them and said to them, I am to be gathered to my [departed] people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, In the cave in the field at Machpelah, east of Mamre in the land of Canaan, that Abraham bought, along with the field of Ephron the Hittite, to possess as a cemetery. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife, there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I (Jacob) buried Leah (Genesis 49:29-30)
Hey Neighbor!
Itâs Tuesday 3/29/2022 and I have Your Super-Faith Sunday Answer From 3/27:
Who is She??Â
She was Leah and Here is her Story!!
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In the dark of night, she was smuggled into the marriage bed by her Father, Laban. But what would be her new husbandâs response, at daybreak when he found the âother sisterâ lying next to him instead of Rachel??
In the morning, Jacob was angry and he took his wrathful complaint to Laban, who promised him his youngest daughter to wife also – the sister that Jacob adored and had labored 7 years for. Yes!! Rachel was that sister that Jacobâs heart yearned for- She was the much prettier, and preferred sister.Â
Now Scripture tells us that Leah, the older sister, had âweak eyes,â yet they were strong enough to look upon her husband adoringly. You see, Leah loved Jacob, but he despised her. She had been humiliated by him, causing the light in her eyes to grow dimmer – day by day; But God saw her affliction and blessed Leah with a strong and fertile womb.
Rachel was indeed beautiful, but she was yet barren. God had closed her womb and Rachel could not understand this. She was quite unhappy and she blamed her husband, quarreling and faulting Jacob – even calling for death upon herself!!
-WHEN RACHEL saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister, and said to Jacob, Give me children, or else I will die! (Genesis 30:1)
Instead of approaching God in prayer for deliverance, Rachel made undue demands of her husband, but Jacob emphatically reminded Rachel that it was God Who had prevented her from bearing children- not him!!
Still, Rachel grew more and more envious of Leahâs fruitfulness and She was tormented as Leah bore Jacob more children – one after the other!!
First came Rueben- See a Son!
Then came Simeon- God hears!
Still seeking to acquire Jacobâs love and attention, as her true marital partner, Leah then bore him Levi- Companion!
Unfortunately, Leah was yet despised and still humiliated!!
Next came Judah!!
Why Judah??
Again she conceived and bore a son, and she said, Now will I praise the Lord! So she called his name Judah [praise]; (Genesis 29:35)
Judah means Praise!!
You see Leah learned to redirect her focus- she had been desperately seeking the love of her husband, which had not profited her.
So now, Leah sought after God!!
The One who had Seen her tears in the dark and Heard her cries in the night!!
In her Praise, Leah found that she had now acquired contentment, and she was able to focus on the joy of motherhood!!
For those who are familiar with this story- these two âsister-wivesâ go back and forth – in the spirit of competition, trading and exchanging Jacob like he was a Breeding Stud!! – even exchanging their handmaids as surrogate mothers.
From that union- Jacob produced 4 more sons. Two each, with his wiveâs handmaids- Bilhah and Zilpah. These sons were named, Dan and Naphtali (Bilhah); and Gad and Asher (Zilpah).
Leah once again returns to the Lord in prayer, and the Lord blesses her womb and she bore Jacob a 5th son- Issachar (Hired)Â
Where did she get that name?? Thatâs another story for another day- Yes! We will need hot tea for that oneâŠđ«
Now, at some point in the marriage, Jacob begins to spend more of his evenings, after work in Leahâs tent with the boys. Maybe God had begun to soften his heart towards Leah.
Jacob had obviously taken more of an interest in Leah- beyond her beauty- or lack thereof, because Leah become pregnant again!!
She bore Jacob a 6th son, and she called him -Dwelling (Zebulun.)
Still Jacob must have continued on, hanging around @ Leahâs tent. Was she beginning to grow on him??
Well maybe soâŠ.because Leah was pregnant again!! This time with their 7th child!!
Together, Leah and Jacob finally had a baby girl. They called her Dinah!!
Yes! The Lord does finally open Rachelâs womb and gives her a son by Jacob. This was Jacobâs beloved son, Joseph-âthe son of his old age,â and Rachel called him- âMay He Add.â
God does indeed add one more son to Rachel, at her pleading- but unfortunately, Rachel dies in childbirth, having their 2nd son, Benjamin whom she calls- son of my sorrow!!
Jacob and Leah grieved and mourned for Rachel and they buried her in Bethlehem.
Rachel had lived her life threatening and demanding that her womb be filled- even desperately using her maid as a substitute and a surrogate so that she might bear Jacob a son and to finally prevail against her sister, Leah.Â
Leah copied Rachelâs ungodly tactic, but Leah had been watching her husband on those days when he dwelled in her tent. And through those âweak eyes,â she saw Jacobâs prayer life and she learned much about Jacobâs God.
Through Jacob, Leah learned how to pray and how to Bless God for His overflow!!
She realized that God had blessed her with each of her 7 children, and she was grateful to Him. She even remarked, after Asher and Gad were born; that she was Happy that Victory and Fortune had prevailed in her life!!
-And Leah said, I am happy, for women will call me blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied); and she named him Asher [happy]. (Genesis 30:13)
Leah believed that God had called her, Blessed!!
And she believed that others would call her, Blessed of Women!!
Indeed she was- and though Leah was not directly listed as a Matriarch of the Messiah, she was the Mother of âPraiseâ-Judah, through whom the The Christ Child, called Savior would someday descend and thus Bless the World!!
Leah had fought a long and arduous battle for the love of her husband, JacobâŠand we may never know if she truly won that battle, But instead, and Better yet- She Indeed Gained the Love of God!!Â
Leah fought the Good Fight of Faith!!đđ
************************************ Thanks For Stopping By!!
Until Next Time, RememberâŠ
God Loves đYou and So Do I!!
-Tam
Donât forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also â
Now we are still in the Book of Genesis where we are spotlighting another âfaith-fullâ female in the Bible who had been dealt a difficult hand in life, but she did not throw her cards in, nor did she give-up!!
She fought the Good Fight of Faith!!
Here is Todayâs Super Faith Female:
Who is She??
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She was the first born daughter to her sheep herding father. Tradition was such that the first born daughter was to marry prior to the younger, but she was hindered – possibly because she was not a very beautiful girl.  Her kinsmen took her to wife, but not by choice!!
He also took a second wife, who became her adversary. She was envied by her adversary – who was very beautiful, but she was barren!!
She tried in vain to win the love of her husband by bearing him many sons, but it wasnât until after she yielded and learned to Praise God, that the Lord restored her position as the primary wife.
No!! – She had not been the preferred wife, but she was the wife who was chosen by God!!
The Lord caused her latter years to be better than her former. God nurtured her spiritual beauty and He blessed her – even in death- as her ashes lie beside her beloved husbandâs in their burying place.
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Grab Your Bibles and Have Fun!!
I will post Answers for You on Tuesday.
Enjoy!!
Until Next Time, RememberâŠ
God Loves đYou and So Do I!!
-Tam
Thanks for stopping by!!
Donât forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also â
And He said, Hagar, Saraiâs maid, where did you come from, and where are you intending to go? And she said, I am running away from my mistress Sarai. (Genesis 16:8)
Hey Neighbor!
Yesterday we unveiled our âFaith-fullâ Female of the Week – Hagar.
First, I have to say thanks to Beverley, from her blog – âBecoming the Oil and the Wineâ for submitting another correct answer to our Super Faith Sunday Challenge- where each week – we highlight 1 âfaith-fullâ female from the Bible.
Beverley is 2 For 2!! đđ
Thanks so much, Beverleyđđđđ
Now when we first meet Hagar she was simply an Egyptian servant girl, gifted to Abram in exchange for Sarai.
Now this is of course before God sent Abraham (father of a multitude) and Sarah (Princess) down to the Social Security Office to document their official name changes.đ€Ł (Genesis 17:5, 15)
You do Remember that God changed both of their names, but thatâs a story for another dayâŠtoday we are focusing on Hagar, Abram, and Sarai!!
Now while Sarai and Abram were temporarily living in Egypt, Pharaoh had taken Sarai into his harem, convinced by Abram that Sarai was nothing more than his beloved sister!!
I know- Abram and Sarai were âextra,â as the kids like to say!! đ
I guess thatâs why God changed their names – to settle those two down – Lol!
So Anyway, Letâs try to stay focused on Hagar- She was a handmaid gifted to Abram in Egypt, as a sort of dowry from Pharoah to Abram, in exchange for Sarai joining his harem.
She (Hagar) accompanied Abram and Sarai and their caravan of sheep, oxen, he-donkeys, menservants, maidservants, she-donkeys, and camels departing from EgyptâŠAfter a plague-afflicted Pharaoh ran them both out of town for their âtall tales!â- đ€ŻI will spill tea on this another dayđ«
So at this point Abram remained childless, and Sarai remained barren.
But Sarai had a bright idea đĄ
She decided to give Abram her Egyptian Handmaid, Hagar to wife (secondary), in hopes that Hagar would conceive a child by Abram and thus, she would serve as a surrogate mother for Abramâs son and heir.
This was not a God-Approved Idea!!
Well, Sarai didnât have to exert too much effort in order to convince Abram to go along with her hair-brained scheme and before you know itâŠHagar is pregnant!!
Now after Hagar conceived, as my mother wouldâve said, âSarai had gotten beside herself!â
She looked down her nose at Sarai- forgetting her place- She was still just a servant and only a secondary wife, but Hagar was exalted in her own eyesight.
Now when Sarai complained to Abram- the two of them played the blame game for a while- Until a vengeful Sarai, once again takes matters into her own hands.
Now after being harshly afflicted by a âwrath-filled,â overly-impassioned Sarai, Hagar runs as far as she can from home- hoping to run as far as Egypt!!
But no matter how far Hagar had attempted to run to get away from Sarai- She could not outrun God!!
God saw Hagar!!
And although she felt inclined to run from her mistress, in her self-exalted mindset, God had not approved of Hagarâs misguided departure.
God spoke to Hagar, calling her, âSaraiâs maid,â Reminding her that for 10 years, she had been blessed and favored in Abramâs household as a servant, until she permitted pride to overtake her.
The Angel of the Lord admonished her and encouraged Hagar to repent- and to turn away from Egypt, and the Godless, idolatrous lifestyle that she had once known and insteadâŠ.now take up His yoke of humility and return to her husband Abram, and submit to her mistress, Sarai!
Trusting that He had seen her tears, and had heard her complaints about her mistress, if she would receive Him as her Lord, He would watch over her and give her a hope for the future and a prosperous outcome for her offspring.
See now, you are with child and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael [God hears], because the Lord has heard and paid attention to your affliction. (Genesis 16:11)
God had called Hagar out of Egypt for a purpose, and her future was pre-destined for Godâs plans and purposes!!
Hagar Believed Godâs spoken promise, taking hold of it as an undeserved gift!!
After she had returned to herself, Hagar realized how blessed she had been in Godâs presence. The very same God, whom her husband Abram had worshipped daily, He had now seen and acknowledged her- showing His love and concern for her, a lowly Egyptian handmaid.
In recognition of her transformational encounter with God, Hagar memorialized the well of water where she had met The Angel of the Lord as, âBeer-lahai-roiâ- A well to the Living One Who sees me (Genesis 16:14)
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Thanks for Stopping By Today and Donât Forget Tomorrow – Trivia Thirsday!!
Until Then-
God Loves đYou and So Do I!!
-Tam
Donât forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also â
-So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a bottle of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulders, and he sent her and the youth away. And she wandered on [aimlessly] and lost her way in the wilderness of Beersheba- (Genesis 21:14)
Today is 3/22/2022 and I have Our Super Faith Sunday Challenge Answer:
Who is She??
Hagar
************* âWhat is Troubling You?â
These are the words that Hagar heard from heaven after she had been thrown out⊠banishedâŠand abandonedâŠboth her and her little boy⊠-from her husband, her home and all that she had become familiar with and accustomed to-
Her husband, Abraham, had put her away⊠Her son, Ishmael had been turned away by his father⊠It appeared that they were all aloneâŠand scripture tells us that Hagar and the young boy wandered in the wilderness, aimlessly.
Where would they Go?
What would they Do?
Who would open their doors to them and have mercy on this homeless mother and her fatherless child?
Hagar was hopeless and afraid!!
Abraham had sent her away with only bread and a bottle of water. He placed it upon her shoulders early that morning, before bidding her farewell.
She had been a âthorn in the sideâ to Abraham and SarahâŠstirring up strife in their marriage and stirring up jealousy in her son, towards his brother Isaac.
Sarah had finally reached her breaking pointâŠDemanding that this bondwoman and her son be cast out and away from her sight.
Abraham loved Ishmael and reluctantly acknowledged his wife, Sarahâs request. It was only because God had spoken to AbrahamâŠconfirming that he must do what Sarah had asked, that Abe grievously sent them away.
So as Hagar wandered aimlessly in the wilderness, with no real destination in mindâŠshe lost her wayâŠand had run out of water.
How could she and her son survive or sustain themselves in the blistering conditions of the desert with no water and no refuge??
Hagar could see no hope in sightâŠas her eyes were likely, filled with tears and her head hung low in despairâŠBut God saw Hagar and God loved both Hagar and IshmaelâŠand showed them His mercy and His lovingness. He called out to Hagar from Heaven and He opened Her eyesâŠrevealing a well of water.
She had nearly given upâŠhaving distanced herself from the boy and placing him under a shrubâŠfearing that he would be overcome from by the sun and the heatâŠIshmaelâs Mother could not bear to watch him wither away and die from dehydration.
Hagar treaded off and sat down in despair, away from Ishmael and raised up her voice and weptâŠas her young son also lifted up his voice and cried outâŠprobably for his motherâŠThen God heard them both!!
God had not abandoned themâŠHe was with Hagar and Ishmael and He quenched their thirstsâŠand spared their lives and fulfilled His promise to make Ishmael into a great nation.
-Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the [empty] bottle with water and caused the youth to drink. And God was with the youth, and he developed; and he dwelt in the wilderness and became an archer. He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him out of the land of Egypt- (Genesis 21:19-21)
*************** Thanks For Stopping By Today!!
Until Next Time, RememberâŠ
God Loves đYou and So Do I!!
-Tam
Donât forget to Share The CareBibleStudy Blog with YOUR Family, Friends, Co-Workers and Your Neighbors also â
CareBibleStudy 